Chapter 382 - 381: Didn’t Return All Night

He Lang pulled her back. "Yue’er, it wasn’t important. That’s why I didn’t tell you."

Xue Yue was hurt, and her voice spiraled out of control. "Then what is important? Another woman confesses her feelings for you, you decide it’s not important, and so you just hide it from me? You let me act like a fool, getting along with people while they’re all laughing at me."

He Lang said in a low voice, "That’s not what I meant. Plenty of women like me. Do I have to report every single one to you? You’d get annoyed. Besides, it’s all trivial stuff. I don’t think this is a reason for us to fight."

Xue Yue laughed in anger, her tone laced with sarcasm. "’Plenty of women like me.’ How proud you are. So there have been others."

He Lang’s pupils contracted. "That’s not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean? Weren’t you just bragging to me about how many women like you?"

He Lang’s face darkened.

"Xue Yue, you know that’s not what I meant. Don’t you have any trust in me at all?"

"This isn’t about trust. It’s about you not respecting me."

"I do respect you. I told you, I didn’t think any of it was important enough to mention," He Lang said, his tone laced with impatience.

His words hurt Xue Yue, and her mind was a mess. She wanted to leave, but He Lang wouldn’t let go of her.

She jerked away violently, and there was a sharp SLAP.

Both of them froze.

Xue Yue’s hand trembled. She instinctively looked at He Lang and saw his dark eyes and grim face.

She paused for two seconds, then turned and ran.

Only after running a long distance did Xue Yue finally stop. Her eyes were red with anguish. She looked up at the darkening sky and began walking slowly along the side of the road.

At her job, she was used to wearing high heels. Even though they were only mid-heels, they weren’t suited for walking long distances. After a short while, her feet were aching terribly, so she had no choice but to take a bus home.

When Mr. He saw Xue Yue return alone, he asked in confusion, "Didn’t our third son come back with you?"

Only then did Xue Yue realize that He Lang wasn’t back yet. She felt a wave of relief, as she still didn’t know how to face him.

"He had something to do, so I came back first."

Watching Xue Yue go inside, Mr. He muttered to himself, "Didn’t they say they were going to the movies? How did he get busy with something else again? Honestly."

Xue Yue turned on the light and saw the empty room.

She sat down on the bed.

Just then, Shiyi and Ruanruan heard the noise and came running over.

"Mom, Grandpa said you and Dad went to see a movie. How could you? You didn’t even take me and my sister. I want to see a movie too," Shiyi said, pouting.

Ruanruan waved a dismissive hand. "That’s just you. I didn’t want to go. Besides, you’re so little, would you even understand it?"

Shiyi huffed. "I would." He then hugged Xue Yue’s arm and shook it. "Mom, I want to see a movie too."

Xue Yue looked at Shiyi and said softly, "Okay, I’ll take you when you’re on vacation."

"Do you promise?"

Xue Yue nodded.

Ruanruan looked around the room and, not seeing He Lang, asked, "Where’s Dad?"

Xue Yue was suddenly at a loss for words. "Have you two finished your homework?"

Shiyi and Ruanruan exchanged a glance. "Almost..."

Xue Yue pointed to the door. "Go back and do your homework. We can talk after it’s finished."

"O—kay." The siblings glanced at Xue Yue one last time before returning to their room.

Xue Yue remained sitting on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at a single spot. He Lang still hadn’t returned.

Xue Yue didn’t eat dinner, but she didn’t feel hungry. She glanced at the bed. ’Should I go sleep with the children?’ she wondered, but she was afraid they would ask a million questions she couldn’t explain.

In the end, she took a shower, returned to her room, and lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Her mind was a mess. She felt He Lang didn’t respect her, which made her feel wronged. She was afraid that if He Lang came back, they would just argue again.

But as time passed and He Lang still didn’t return, she started to worry. It was all so complicated.

She drifted off to sleep at some point. When she opened her eyes again, it was already light outside. She glanced at her watch; it was seven in the morning.

Xue Yue looked at the other side of the bed. It was neat and clean, untouched.

He Lang hadn’t come back all night. Xue Yue felt a heavy weight in her chest, as if a stone were pressing down on it.

She got up and started making breakfast as usual. She could hear Mr. He muttering outside, "He’s a grown man, but how can his body take it if he’s this busy every day?"

Mr. He had noticed the motorcycle was gone from the courtyard and assumed He Lang had come home late last night and left early again this morning.

Since He Lang had never stayed out all night without letting them know, Mr. He didn’t think anything else of it.

After breakfast, Mr. He took the children to school, and Xue Yue took the bus to work.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Deng Weiwei standing in front of Guo Zhaoyang, smiling radiantly. "A new copper-pot hot pot place opened up in Qianmen’s Meishikou. Let’s go together after work."

Guo Zhaoyang shook his head. "No. A single man and a single woman... people might get the wrong idea."

Deng Weiwei puffed out her cheeks. "So what if they get the wrong idea? We’re both single. It’s nobody’s business."

Guo Zhaoyang chuckled dryly. "It’s my mom’s business. If she found out I was fooling around, she’d break my legs."

Deng Weiwei’s mouth fell slightly open in surprise. "Is your mom really that strict?"

Guo Zhaoyang nodded. "Everyone in our family has to listen to my mom. So what do you think?"

As he finished speaking, he looked up and saw Xue Yue walk in.

"Group Leader, good morning."

Xue Yue nodded. "Good morning." Then she went into the inner office.

Deng Weiwei belatedly registered Xue Yue’s voice. A moment ago, she had been wondering, ’If Guo Zhaoyang and I get together someday, will I have to be controlled by his mom too?’

Meanwhile, at the supermarket, Xue Xingjun arrived at the office early in the morning and was startled to see the lock on the door was gone. He was sure he had locked it when he left last night.

Lately, He Lang had been busy with matters at the hotel and hadn’t been spending much time at the supermarket. So, Xue Xingjun was looking after things there, running over to the hotel to talk to He Lang whenever something came up.

Xue Xingjun thought a thief had broken in. He gently gripped the doorknob, gave it a sudden push, and saw his brother-in-law half-reclining in the chair, his feet propped up on the desk, a piece of clothing draped over him, and his eyes closed.

Xue Xingjun froze for a moment.

"Close the door. Get out."

He Lang didn’t open his eyes, and his voice was raspy.

Xue Xingjun said, "Brother-in-law, why are you sleeping here?"

"Get out!"

Xue Xingjun blinked. He figured his brother-in-law was just grumpy from waking up. He quickly nodded, went out, and closed the door.

When Daya arrived, Xue Xingjun hurried over to ask her, "Did my brother-in-law not come home last night?"

Daya shook her head. "I don’t know."

Daya thought the same thing as Mr. He—that He Lang had just left early.

Xue Xingjun said, "He definitely didn’t go home. From the looks of him, he clearly slept here last night. Did he and my sister have a fight?"

Daya shook her head. "I don’t think so. I didn’t hear anything."

Xue Xingjun frowned and said with a hint of disdain, "How come you don’t know anything?"

Daya replied, "I went to bed early last night. All I know is that they were supposedly going to the movies."